Olympics Strength Coach Returns Home To Launch New Training Hub In Coleraine

A strength coach who has worked behind the scenes at some of the world’s biggest sporting events, including the Paris Olympics, has returned to Northern Ireland after 19 years away to launch a new training service on the North Coast.

Scott Taggart, originally from Armagh, has opened Strength by Taggart at Core Gym in Coleraine, bringing what he describes as a “high-performance, long-term approach to strength” back to the area.

After leaving Northern Ireland in 2007 to study in Glasgow, Mr Taggart spent a decade working in hospitality before changing direction during the Covid-19 pandemic. He went on to work in global sports operations, supporting major international events, including the Paris Olympics and The Open Championship in Portrush.

Alongside his work at major sporting events, Mr Taggart has experienced a significant personal transformation. In 2010, he competed in the World Strongest Natural Man finals, weighing 180kg. Over the following decade, he lost around 70kg while continuing to train and maintain high levels of strength. 

He said his experiences changed how he views fitness and performance.

“Working at the Olympics and The Open showed me what peak performance looks like,” he said. “But my own journey taught me what sustainability looks like. Strength isn’t just about lifting heavy once. It’s about staying capable, mobile and healthy for decades.”

Mr Taggart also spoke about suffering a serious knee injury in 2021, which went undiagnosed for almost three years. He later discovered he had torn his ACL and underwent surgery in Thailand in January 2025.

“For three years, my leg was basically held together by muscle,” he said. “That experience changed everything for me. Strength isn’t about vanity or gym records. It’s an insurance policy for your life. It’s the reason I managed for so long without surgery and why my recovery has been so quick.”

His new business introduces what he calls a “longevity” coaching model, aimed at moving people away from short-term fitness goals and towards building long-term resilience and strength. The service offers one-to-one personal training, small group sessions, hybrid in-person and app-based coaching, as well as online programmes. 

Mr Taggart said returning to the North Coast during The Open had been a turning point.

“Coming home reminded me how strong the community is here,” he said. “I want to help people invest in their physical future, whether they’re 25 or 65, so they can keep performing well in business and in life for years to come.”

Strength by Taggart is now operating from Core Gym in Coleraine, offering coaching focused on longevity, weight management and sustainable strength development.